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Tri-Cities area softball preview

Aurora Central Catholic

Coach: Tom Babyar Last year: 18-3, 11-5 tied for first with Marian. Top returnees: Gabi Alfaro, sr., SS; Mary Wileman, sr., C; Paige Miller, Jr, P; Maddie Reinecke, so., OF; Kat Beatty, sr. 1B; Emma Baxter, sr. P; Andrea Bieritz, sr. 3B/C; Samantha Miller, sr. 1B/C; Julia Dickerson, Jr, OF; Kayla Konen, sr., OF.

Key newcomers: Bridget Butler, so., INF/OF; Andrea Polizzi, so., INF/OF; Giana Polizzi, so., INF/OF, Gabby Guzman, jr., INF/OF.

Outlook: Babyar, the longtime coach at York, enters his second year with the Chargers with several key players back. Alfaro batted .488 with 9 home runs last year and "makes all the plays," according to her coach. Wileman moves to catcher after playing second base last year. She hit .303 with 8 triples. Miller had a 3.18 ERA and is a versatile player who Babyar can play all over the diamond. "I like our team, I think we have some depth with some interchangeable parts," Babyar said. "I already told the girls that finishing first in conference last year with an 18-13 record shows we were competitive but we need to improve in every facet of the game to get to the next level. We had no seniors last year so we lost no one to graduation. We bring back a lot of experience. I think the key to our season is going to be the leadership we get from our seniors on and off the field." The Chargers move to a new conference this year, the Metro Suburban, where Babyar pegs Glenbard South and Riverside-Brookfield as the teams to beat.

Batavia

Coach: Lupe Castellanos Last year: 10-20, 7-12 in the Upstate Eight River. Top returnees: Ryanne Rokos, sr., CF; Toni Galas, so., SS/OF; Natalie Offutt, sr., 1B.

Key newcomers: Kaylan Waldron, fr., P/OF.

Outlook: Rokos is back for her fourth year on varsity after hitting .396 last year. She made all-conference and will play at Bucknell University next year. Galas also is a returning all-UEC player after batting .448 last season. Offutt provides more experience after hitting .318. Batavia will be counting on Waldron to make an impact as a freshman. "I believe the strength of our team will be that we have five returning seniors," Castellanos said. "Having that senior leadership will be key for us this year. I feel the thing that will determine how well we do this year will be how well we play defense this year." It's never easy for Batavia with 4 games every year against St. Charles East and St. Charles North plus numerous other challenges on the schedule. "I believe St. Charles East and North are the teams to beat," Castellanos said of the Upstate Eight River race. "Both team have been at the top of the conference for awhile. I think Geneva will be tough this year. Overall I feel we should be very competitive this year in conference."

Geneva

Coach: Greg Dierks Last year: 21-13, third in the UEC River. Top returnees: Molly Wrenn, so. 3B; Anna Geary, sr., SS; Annika Radabaugh, so., 1B; Sarah Bauer, jr., LF; Madie Keith, sr., CF; Rylie Porretto, so., RF; Emily Plocinski, jr., P; Rachel Fanella, jr., P; Kaitlyn Plocinski, so., C; Alexis Garibay, sr., 1B.

Key newcomers: Taylor Mraz, jr., IF/OF; Kyla Chenier, so., OF/IF; Kate Geary, fr., IF/OF.

Outlook: The Vikings return the most experience of any area teams with 8 starters back. There's an open competition for second base and every other position has a starter back. "They all had productive seasons last year but we are looking for more from each of them," Dierks said. Anna Geary already is a two-time All-Area choice who hit .404 last year and .429 as a sophomore. Radabaugh smashed Geneva's single-season home run record as a freshman with 11 while hitting .355 with 31 RBI. "This is as good of a team as I have ever had," Dierks said. "We have the ability to score runs and we are solid defensively. In order to be successful, we need to do all the little things correctly. Things like moving runners, hitting our cutoffs, pitchers getting ahead on counts will make the difference in close games. We are capable of challenging for conference and advancing in the postseason if we play well." Dierks said the newcomers "are all capable of pushing the returning players for time and contributing at the varsity level." Junior Olivia Corbett is injured and Dierks said may not make it back in time to play this spring. Foreign exchange students Sophie Bertocchi and Khloe Benabouda are also going to be on the team. After years of St. Charles North and St. Charles East dominating the conference, this could be the year Geneva makes its move. "I think the conference race is somewhat up for grabs," Dierks said. "East and North have been the dominant teams and this is their conference until someone knocks them off. On paper we are closer to being able to do that than in any other year, but we have to prove it on the field. Batavia has a lot of talent and will be a major threat too."

Kaneland

Coach: Peter Goff Last year: 20-11. Top returnees: Angie Morrow, sr., P; Paige Kuefler, sr, C; Meg Cohrs, jr., 3B; Morgan Weber, so., SS.

Key newcomers: Courtney Davis, jr., 1B/P; Anissa Becker, sr., P; Shannon Herrera, sr., P; Rachel Urich, sr., P; Rachel Goress, so, P; Mary Lynn Clausen, jr., C.

Outlook: It's a season of transition for the Knights. Goff, the school's athletic director, didn't find out until January he also would be the softball coach. He brings plenty of experience - three years at Ashland-Franklin Center, and five years, three as the head coach, at Sterling. "It's nothing I thought would ever happen," Goff said of taking over as coach. "It's fun to be back in practice again. I really enjoy the camaraderie and being with student-athletes. They listen, they are very coachable." Goff coached basketball at Sterling and was the dean of students so he said handling softball and the Kaneland AD job is not an issue. "The busier I am the better I am," Goff said. "My assistant is outstanding. It's really working out well." Morrow is headed to Wisconsin but will miss the start of the season after having her wisdom teeth out. Goff does like his options behind Morrow. "We have quite a few pitchers, not a lot of experience at the varsity level, but they all have pitching coaches so I know they are well structured," Goff said. Kuefler, a four-year starter behind the plate, was in a car accident last Tuesday with the terrible fog that hit the area. Goff said she will be out at least a week or two to start the year. Goff is excited about the left side of his infield. Cohrs returns at third base while Weber shifts from second to short. She's also the team's leadoff hitter. "They just have soft hands," Goff said. "It's just natural for them to pick it up and throw it over there. Our left side is really good. And when we get back healthy you are as good as your pitcher and catcher in softball so we're really excited about that." Goff said all three outfield spots are up for grabs. "I'm more excited about the first day than they are because then I can really see," Goff said. "The league is pretty solid. DeKalb, Yorkville, Morris, us, it's going to be a dogfight. That's what you want because those things get you ready for the postseason. Our fist goal is we want to win conference. And we want to play in June."

Rosary

Coach: Megan Tracy Last year: 10-22, 7-9 in the Suburban Christian Conference. Top returnees: Elayne Young, sr., P; Danyal VanGundy, sr., INF/OF; Emma Molenhouse, jr., P/IF; Sarah Willman, so, P/IF/OF; Madison McDonald, sr., INF; Natalia Flowers, so., C/INF.

Key newcomers: Anna VanGundy, fr., C/IF/OF; Ries McCue, jr., INF/OF.

Outlook: It's the first year for Tracy who takes over for John Kazmierczak. She knows the area, playing high school softball at Batavia before playing two years at St. Ambrose University and then two years at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. "I love coaching at Rosary, Tracy said. "The athletic department is very supportive of my coaching style and vision for the program. The girls seem to be responding positively to our new vision, which is one program, one team. I am so lucky and blessed to have this opportunity to work with the athletes at Rosary High School, and I am very excited about this new journey we are embarking on together as a team." Tracy also liked a lot of what she has to work with in her first year. "I feel our strengths are good pitching and catching," Tracy said. "We have young talent coming in which is exciting. We have a strong offense and will put the ball in play." Defense was probably the biggest Achilles' heel for Rosary in recent years but Tracy hopes that is a thing of the past. "Our team is united and our defense is growing," Tracy said. "I feel if we communicate well with each other on the field and communicate where the play is going then we should be fine." Tracy expects a smooth transition. "Our goals this year are to play hard every game, always be competitive, leave the game and effort on the field," Tracy said. "We can accomplish anything if we communicate with each another and stay focused." Rosary will compete in a four-team SCC with Montini, St. Francis and Aurora Christian. "Our conference is competitive and brings out the best in our players," Tracy said. "Montini and St. Francis always seem to be close and exciting games. These games bring out the best in our players, and the games have high energy and competitiveness. I think our team and will finish top two in conference but we play teams three times and it is hard to beat teams that many times."

St. Charles East

Coach: Kelly Horan Last year: 30-7, 17-1, first in the Upstate Eight River. Top returnees: Alex Latoria, sr., 3B/P; Olivia Cheatham, sr., MINF; Katie Kob, jr., OF; Kelly Rinker, jr., MINF; Jordan Heiber, so., U/P; Rylee Stout, so., C.

Key newcomers: Maddie Candre, fr., OF; Cat Crossen, jr., C; Jordan Hall, jr., P; Delany Devor, so., P/OF; Molly McGovern, sr., OF; Nicole Kilpatrick, sr, OF.

Outlook: The Saints have four players - Latoria, Cheatham, Kolb and Rinker - who played on the 2013 team that finished second in state and also played on last year's 30-win team. Latoria and Cheatham will both play at the University of Evansville next year while Kolb has committed to Winona State. Latoria blasted 5 home runs in 2014 with a .500 on-base percentage while going 7-1 in the circle. Cheatham batted .357 and Kolb hit .360 with 20 stolen bases. Sophomores Heiber and Stout finished at .506 and .411, respectively. "Everything is up for grabs," Horan said. "Infield players are learning every position until we figure out the best combination. Offense should be a strength and our work ethic will make us great defenders. Somebody will need to step up on the mound but I'm confident I have the horses to be successful there." It's a lofty goal but Horan is challenging her team to win 30 games again. "This is St. Charles - high expectations are the norm," Horan said. "There is no reason we can't achieve everything we dream of."

St. Charles North

Coach: Tom Poulin Last year: 21-9, 16-3, second place in the Upstate Eight River. Top returnees: Abby Howlett, sr., OF/1B; Kaitlyn Waslawski, sr., OF/2B; Erin Nemetz, sr., 3B; Alex Millett, sr., C; Jordyn Wolfe, so., OF.

Key newcomers: Allie Moberg, so., 1B/C; Maddie Webb, so., P/1B; Jillian Waslawski, fr., P/2B/OF.

Outlook: The North Stars graduated Sabrina Rabin, now at Northwestern after winning the Daily Herald All-Area Captain award the past two seasons. They do have five players returning who have committed to colleges - Howlett to Northern Illinois, Waslawski to Princeton, Nemetz to St. Olaf, Millett to Southeastern and Wolfe to Louisville. Howlett is a 2-time All-Area pick who batted .407 last year with 11 doubles, 4 home runs and 39 RBI. "I feel like we have the potential to be able to mix speed and power throughout the lineup," Poulin said. "We need our pitchers to step up and reach their potential. We are confident in them and like our depth there. This team also has the capability to be one of our strongest teams defensively. We have question marks, but we have dedicated, team-first kids. We want to win each game we play, win the conference, have a long tourney run and enjoy the experience." The Upstate Eight River has turned into quite a battle each year between the North Stars and Saints, and Poulin expects more of the same with Geneva also trying to work its way in the mix. "We feel like we can compete for the conference title if we put the work in and consistently approach each day with the right mindset," Poulin said. "It should be quite the challenge considering we have teams like Geneva and St. Charles East to contend with."

West Aurora

Coach: Randy Hayslett Last year: 16-15, 5-9 in the DuPage Valley Conference (5th place). Top returnees: Cara Jimenez, jr., 1B/3B; Taylor Podschweit, sr., SS; Hannah Beatus, so. P; Carley Frauenhoff, jr., C; Kendall Podschweit, sr.; Tori Hunger, sr., 2B; Jess Wayzer, sr. C/OF; Corey McCreedy, jr., OF/2B.

Key newcomers: Kim Shliff, jr., C/3B; Jess Vargas, jr., OF; Lexi Faxon, jr.,OF; McKenzie Copher, sr., P; Jamie McCreedy, jr., OF; Kallie Rundle, so., 1B; Grace Hunger, so., OF/SS.

Outlook: The Blackhawks move to the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division with some key players back. Jimenez hit .437 with 4 home runs and 30 RBI last year. Podschweit, despite missing a third of the season with an injury, batted .442 with 2 home runs and 12 RBI. Beatus was 6-5 with a 2.30 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 88 innings. "I expect our strengths to be solid infield defense, very good pitching, and an offense that's capable of putting up some runs," Hayslett said. Frauenhoff returns behind the plate after hitting .250 with 16 RBI. Third-year varsity players Kendall Podschweit (12 RBI) and Hunger (. 268 average) provide more experience. Wayzer batted .291 last year. As for newcomers, Hayslett said there's a lot of competition for starting spots. "Moving to the Upstate Eight - it's hard to say where we will be. We're not as familiar with all the programs but we know there is great softball here with St. Charles, Bartlett and we've had great games with Geneva and Metea in the past. But it will be an adjustment. Our goal will to be one of the top teams in the conference so we'll see."

Images: Daily Herald High School Softball and Baseball Trading Cards

  Two of last season's top hitters in the area return this spring in Kaneland's Morgan Weber, above, and St. Charles East's Alex Latoria, below. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
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